IV 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 852 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on the challenges 

posed to long-term stability in Lebanon by the conflict in Syria. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 8, 2016 

Mr. HANNA (for himself, Mr. ISSA, Mr. ABRAHAM, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. 

CICILLINE, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. HIGGINS, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. BOUSTANY, Mr. BEYER, Ms. GRAHAM, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. WEBER of 

Texas, Ms. KAPTUR, and Mr. FORTENBERRY) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on 

the challenges posed to long-term stability in Lebanon 

by the conflict in Syria. 

Whereas security and stability in Lebanon, a pluralistic democracy in the Middle East, is in the interests of the 

United States and its allies in the region; 

Whereas over the past 10 years, the United States has provided robust assistance to Lebanon, including training 

and equipment for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF); 

Whereas the conflict in Syria poses a significant threat to 

stability in Lebanon as a result of violent attacks against 

Lebanese citizens perpetrated by combatants active in 


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•HRES 852 IH 

Syria and a massive influx of refugees fleeing the conflict; 

Whereas the people of Lebanon have shown great generosity 

in welcoming more than 1,000,000 refugees from Syria, 

even as Lebanon struggles to accommodate a refugee 

population equal to one-quarter of its native population; 

Whereas Lebanon is hosting more refugees proportionally 

than any country in the world; 

Whereas the refugee crisis has further depressed the economy 

of Lebanon, which has a national debt of approximately 

140 percent of the gross domestic product and economic 

growth rates lower than potential; 

Whereas the LAF has been called into direct conflict with the 

Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) as a result of attacks carried out by that terrorist group in Lebanon; 

Whereas the conflict in Syria has put significant strains on 

the Lebanese Government as it continues to confront the 

political deadlock that has kept the Presidency vacant for 

more than two years; 

Whereas the unique political constitution of Lebanon hinges 

on the distinct demographic and social equilibrium of the 

country; 

Whereas the prolongation of the conflict in Syria has the potential to upset the precarious social and political balance 

in Lebanon; 

Whereas the constitution of Lebanon is further undermined 

by undue foreign influence, particularly by the Islamic 

Republic of Iran through its terrorist proxy Hezbollah; 

Whereas the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1701 in 2006, calling for the disarmament of all 


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•HRES 852 IH 

armed groups in Lebanon and stresses the importance of 

full control over Lebanon by the Government of Lebanon; 

and 

Whereas Hezbollah has violated and continues to violate such 

resolution, including by replenishing its stock of rockets 

and missiles in South Lebanon: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the importance of United States 

3 and international assistance to the people of Leb4 anon, in order to build the capacity of Lebanon to 

5 provide services and security for Lebanese citizens 

6 and particularly to curb the influence of Hezbollah; 

7 (2) encourages continued coordination between 

8 the Secretary of State, the United Nations High 

9 Commissioner for Refugees, and humanitarian orga10 nizations, to ensure that refugees from the conflict 

11 in Syria, including those in Lebanon, are supported 

12 in such a way as to mitigate any potentially desta13 bilizing effect on their host countries; 

14 (3) recognizes that it is in the interests of the 

15 United States to support negotiations to end the 

16 conflict in Syria, which would allow for the eventual 

17 return of the millions of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, 

18 Jordan, Turkey, and other countries around the 

19 world; 


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•HRES 852 IH 

1 (4) supports the full implementation of United 

2 Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006); 

3 and 

4 (5) recognizes the LAF as the sole institution 

5 entrusted with the defense of the sovereignty of Leb6 anon and supports United States partnerships with 

7 the LAF, particularly through the global coalition to 

8 defeat the terrorist group ISIS. 

Æ 


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